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Hernandez Victim

In Marlins Debut

April 6, 1994|By GORDON EDES Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES — This is what it's like to be traded on the eve of the season. If you're Jeremy Hernandez, you're still introducing yourself to new teammates after you've already lost one for your new team.

Hernandez, acquired by the Marlins on Sunday from Cleveland, took the decision in the Marlins' 4-3 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday afternoon. He gave up a game-tying single to Eric Karros in the seventh, then a game-deciding sacrifice fly to pinch hitter Jeff Treadway after Kurt Abbott's two-base throwing error in the eighth.

Hernandez, his pregnant wife, Sandra, and their two children, ages 5 and 1, had just returned from Florida to Cleveland, where they'd already rented a place for the summer.

Then came the news Sunday morning that Hernandez was going to the Marlins for reliever Matt Turner. While Hernandez flew to Los Angeles to meet the team, arriving late Monday night, seven-month pregnant Sandra prepared to pack up the family for the drive back to South Florida.

Tuesday morning, Hernandez posed for a picture, so he could be introduced to Marlins fans watching on TV back home.

Tuesday afternoon, Marlins manager Rene Lachemann decided it was time to make more introductions: Jeremy Hernandez, meet Mike Piazza. And by the way, the tying run is on third base.

Hernandez, who is listed as 6 feet 6 but says he's actually an inch taller, already had made Piazza's acquaintance, having begun last season in the bullpen of the San Diego Padres.

"He knew what was coming," Hernandez said. "He likes to extend his arms and drive the ball."

Which is precisely what Piazza did, driving it at Porsche-like speed - but right at second baseman Bret Barberie, who should have been allowed to call time and soak his hand in a bucket of ice.

One more out, and Hernandez - who'd inherited the runner from Yorkis Perez, the team's other new reliever - would take the Marlins into the eighth inning, still ahead 3-2.

But Hernandez threw a slider to Karros higher than he wanted it, and Karros pulled the pitch into left field for a game-tying single.

Hernandez, whom the Marlins are counting upon to be the setup man who'll get them to Bryan Harvey, made it tough on himself in the eighth when he got two quick strikes on Henry Rodriguez, then walked him.

Rodriguez was replaced by pinch runner Mitch Webster, triggering a sequence of events that resulted in a failed pitchout when Abbott's throw struck Webster in the shoulder.

"A lot of stuff happens early in a season," Hernandez said. "When you get settled down, that stuff's not going to happen."

Lachemann will continue to call on Hernandez. "I thought he pitched well," the manager said. "I liked what I saw of him."